It is often easy to underestimate the crucial role that footwear plays in mitigating the risk of slips and falls, particularly in developing and middle-income nations where purchasing power is limited. The slip-resistance capabilities of affordable dress shoes warrant thorough investigation, especially on typical office floors and in wet environments that are prone to causing accidents. Recent studies have focused on quantifying the friction coefficient (ACOF) through various methods, notably using mechanical slip testers, robotic systems, or human trials, where participants mimic slipping to assess footwear performance [1–5]. Due to ethical considerations and biosafety concerns, researchers have increasingly turned to slip risk measuring equipment rather than conducting human trials. Consequently, it becomes essential to evaluate the performance, or traction, of formal footwear under biofidelic test conditions, taking into account both new and worn-out states. In this comprehensive study, we assessed ten popular, cost-effective footwear brands manufactured in India, focusing on their effectiveness in preventing slips and falls [6]. The selection process for these shoes was unbiased, with no specific brand or manufacturer favored. To accurately measure slip resistance performance, also referred to as the friction coefficient, we employed a novel biodegradable and portable robotic slip tester. The chosen footwear underwent three distinct cycles of simulated wear before being tested on commonplace flooring surfaces under both typical wet and dry conditions that are likely to cause slipping.